Tectonic Plates

Question 1

What is the theory regarding Earth’s crust?

Answer 1

Earth’s crust is broken into tectonic plates that move

This theory is fundamental to understanding plate tectonics.

Question 2

What are convection currents?

Answer 2

Hot mantle rises, cools, and sinks; moves plates

Convection currents in the mantle are a key mechanism driving plate movement.

Question 3

What is ridge push?

Answer 3

Gravity pushes plates from elevated mid-ocean ridges

Ridge push is one of the forces contributing to plate tectonics.

Question 4

What is slab pull?

Answer 4

Dense subducting plates pull the rest of the plate

Slab pull is a significant driving force for tectonic plate movement.

Question 5

What does Wegener’s theory propose?

Answer 5

Continental Drift; continents once joined (Pangaea)

This theory suggests that continents have moved over geological time.

Question 6

What evidence supports Wegener’s theory?

Answer 6

Fossils across continents, puzzle-like fit, glacial marks, mountain ranges

These pieces of evidence indicate that continents were once connected.

Question 7

What is seafloor spreading?

Answer 7

New crust forms at mid-ocean ridges; evidence includes magnetic striping, rock ages, and volcanic activity

Seafloor spreading is a process that contributes to the movement of tectonic plates.

Question 8

How are seafloor spreading and continental drift connected?

Answer 8

Seafloor spreading and continental drift support plate tectonics

Both concepts provide a framework for understanding the dynamics of Earth’s surface.